Rotary engine.



E. W. PRIGAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED IULY 2.1913.

1 ,230,923@ Patented June 26, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E- W. PRIGAN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

v APPLICATION FILED JULY 2.1913- 1,23D,923. v Patented June 26, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ERNEST W. PRIGAN, OF

AKRON, onro, As-srenor't or ONE-FOURTH TO GEORGE T. SMITH,

OEAKRON', OHIO, ONE-FOURTH r0 FRANK MJKI'RK, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, ANDounrourt'rrr 'ro L. n. FISOI-IMAN, or AKRON, OHIO.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

Application filed. July 2, 1913. Serial No. 777,048.

To all whom it may concern:

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Akron, county of Summit,and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in RotaryEngines, of which the following is a specification, the principle of theinvention being hereinexplained and the best mode in which I havecontemplated ap-- plying that principle, so as to distinguish it fromother inventions.

The subject of the present invention is an internal combustion engine ofthe rotary type which is provided wlth a stationary.

crank shaft and a plurality of cylinders which are adapted to rotate asa unitabout such crankshaft. It is this type of engine which can bebuilt to give a maximum horse power with a mlnimum of weight. To stillfurther decrease the proportion of weight to horse power it is desirableto construct the engine of the 2-cycle type.

port type is notoriously inefficient, and to remedy this objection Ihave provided in addition to this feature I have provided a selfstarting means for the engine as well as other new and improved featuresto be hereinafter described. To the accomplishment of the foregomg andrelated ends, said invention, then, consists of. the means hereinafterfully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawingsand the following description set forth in detailcertain mechanism embodying the invention, such dis-' closed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

Figure 1 is acentral section through my improved engine; Fig. 2 is anend elevation ofthe engine showing in SldG elevation the pump mechanism;Fig. 31s a plan view showing the attachment of the muffler to thecylinders; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line stationary members orplates 3 and 4 the crank shaft being engaged by three connect- 4L4:,Fig. 1. p

A stationary crank shaft 1 having a smgle off-set or throw 2 is fixedbetween two Theusual 2- cycle engine. whether of the two or three ingrods 5 each attached to a piston 6 the Be it known that LERNnsr W.PRIGAN, a

cylinders is of course immaterial, as three or more may be used, but assubstantially continuous power can be obtained from three cylindersoperating on the Q-cycle prlnciple (the preferred engine is thus built.

Each of the cylinders is provided with a plurality of exhaust ports 9'adapted to be uncovered uponthe downward stroke'of the v pistons 6 thehead 10 of each cylinder being formed with a lateral extension 11 inwhich there is seated apuppet valve 12 normally closed by a spring '13,valve stems 14 being connected to the valves 12, and such stems 14 beingadapted to be raised upon rotation of the cylinders as they strikeagainst a cam 15 attached to a sleeve 16 which is rotatably mounted uponthe crank shaft 1 and is normally held in fixed relation thereto bymeans of a stop 17 on the sleeve engaging against a second stop 18attached to one of the plates 3 in which the crank shaft is fixed. Thecam15 is attached to the sleeve by means of a disk 19. which is mountedin a casing 20 attached to the cylinders and rotatable therewith, suchcasing 20 snugly fitting about the sleeve 16 and the sleeve having slotsor openings 21 at its inner end to permit passage of gas through apassage 22 formed in the crank shaft and opening laterally into thecasing 20. In the inner wall 23 of the casing are formed a plurality ofports 24, one for each cylinder, each port being connected to a valvechamber 25 in the adjacent cylinder by means of a conduit in the form ofa small tube 26. The disk 19 is provided with a single port 27 which isadapted to register successively with the end of the crank shaft andalso for the crank case and rotating cylinders. The other side of thecrank case is rotatably mounted on the crank shaft by a bearing 34:.Attached to the sleeve 31 is any suitable clutch such asamultiple diskclutch 36 (here shown) for the purpose of transmitting the power of theengine to any desired mechanism.

The sleeve 31 attached to the crank case 8 is provided with a gear 33,such gear being suitably connected, preferably by means of a silentchain 36, with a second gear 37 which is adapted to drive, through a connecting rod 38, a two cylinder horizontal pump, each cylinder 39 in suchpump beingprovided with inlet and outlet valves 40 and ll respectively,the inlet valves 40 be ing connected to a manifold 42 connected to aearbureter 43 and the outlet valves 41 beamount of suitably mixed gasand air.

ing connected to a second manifold 44 leading to a pressure tank 45. Thepump is designed to maintain a pressure of approximately fifty pounds inthe tank, and valves 16 and 80 are disposed on each side of the tank,these valves being of the usual globe type.

The pressure tank 45 is connected by means of a suitable conduit 47 tothe end of the crank shaft 1, thus permitting the pressure fluid to passfrom the tank 45 to the casing 20 about the crank shaft and to thussupply the cylinders in turn with a proper Either gasolene, kerosene, orother fuel may be used in the carbureter, depending of course upon theparticular construction ofthe same.

Each cylinder is provided with a spark plug 50 of the usualconstruction, such plug being connected to a terminal 51 fixed in aninsulating disk 52 attached to the cylinders 7. Adjacent to such disk isa second disk 53 attached to the crank shaft 1, such disk 53 being alsoof insulating material and having a terminal 54 opposite to the terminal51 in.

the first-named disk, the spark being adapted to jump between such twoterminals upon the contact of terminals 55 and 56 mounted opposite toeach other in such two disks 5?. and 53 respectively and connected tothe primary circuit of the usual magneto or batteries. The terminals inthe disks will of course be so disposed that the spark will occur in thecylinder at the proper time to ignite the charge.

The cylinders are preferably of the aircooled type, being provided withribs 60 adapted to catch the air and provide for the radiation of theheat from the cylinders. The exhaust ports 9 in each cylinder are spacedthrough approximately 120 degrees and are covered by a sleeve 61connected tothe inner casing or chamber 62 of a threechamber mufller,such lnner chamber belng provided with apertures 63 on all sides pereach cylinder discharges into the circular mufller, the gas beingdirected away from the engine as indicated. Other mufflers of suitabletype may be used, if desired, but the present one is particularlyadapted to the rotary construction and is hence preferred.

The crank shaft 1 is formed with a second internal passage 68 extendingfrom one end through the offset portion, there being leads 69 from suchpassage to the outside of the crank shaft. This passage may be connectedwith any suitable supply of lubricant, the various bearing surfacesbeing thus lubricated while the walls of the cylinders are lubricated bymeans of the oil which is forced out through the connecting rods and isthrown to the walls of the cylinders. By using only three cylinders theconnecting rods may be attached to the crank shaft as shown, each havinga generous bearing surface on the crank shaft. This is an importantfeature of the present construction, as much difficulty has been metwith in the connecting rods and their bearing surfaces in the usualrotary engine.

To start the engine it is only necessary to rotate a handle 7 0 attachedto the sleeve 16 through one-half revolution. This operation raises oneof the valve stems and opens the valve and simultaneously connects thecasing 20 with the passages leading to the valve chambers. In this waygas is admitted to each cylinder in turn, such gas being underapproximately 50 pounds pressure, and being sufficient to start therotation of the cylinders and to start their firing. As soon as therotation has begun the sleeve 16 is returned to its normal position bythe friction of the casing 20 upon the same, thus leaving the engine inthe position shown in Fig. 1. The advantage of supplying the fuel underpressure is considerable as in this way the fresh fuel that is admittedto the cylinders can be used to force out the last remnants of the burntgas, this action being made possible by the use of the mechanicallyoperated inlet valve timed to open at the same time that the exhaustport is uncovered by the piston. It is important that a distributingvalve, such as the disk 19 in the casing, be used, and this disk is sotimed in relation to the inlet valves in the cylinders that gas isadmitted to the valve chambers simultaneously with the opening of thevalve. In this way all pressure on the valve is removed, as if the gaswere always in the valve chamber it might leak through the valve, thuscausing an irregular operation of the engine and putting an undue strainupon the springs which normally hold the valves closed.

The present engine when built in the to weigh but very little, thusadapting it particularly for use in aeroplanes, hydroplanes and thelike, although its use is of course not limited to such installations,as it may also be used in automobiles, and in fact wherever a low weightis an important 1 ing, a mechanically operated inlet valveconsideration.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of and a cylinder rotatable thereabout, said cylmder having anexhaust port controlled by a piston; of a high pressurestorage tank,

an independent *puni'p operated by said engine and adapted to supplygaseous fuel at high pressure to said tank, connections from sald tankto said cylinder, a mechanically operated inlet valve adapted to controlthe' admission of such high pressure gaseous fuel to said cylinder, saidvalve being tlmed to admit such high pressure gaseous fuel to saidcylinder upon the opening of such exhaustport, and manually operablemeans adapted to open said inlet valve to permit the admission of suchhigh pressure gas to start said engine.

'2. In an internal "combustion "engine, the combination with a cylinderprovided with an exhaust port controlled by the piston, an

inlet valve adapted to control the admission of high pressure gaseousfuel to said cylinder, a cam adapted, upon rotation of either said camor'said valve relative to the other, 'to open said valve, said cam beingtimed to admit such high pressure fuel upon the opening of such exhaustport, 'and manually tation of said camand said valve thereby admittinghigh pressure gas to said cylinder to start said engine.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the 1 combination with a cylinderprovided with an exhaust port controlled by the piston,

of a fluid pressure storage tank, an 'inde-] nec'tions from said tankand said cylinder to operable means adapted to cause relative rotrol thedischarge'of gas into saidconnection to said cylindensaid two valvesbeln'g timed to operate an synchronism.

4. In an internal combustion "engine, the combination with acylinderprovided with an exhaust port controlled by the piston, ofafluid pressure-storage tank, an independent pump operated by saidengine and adapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to said tank,a cyllndrlcal 'CflS1I1g,COI1I1(-3CUO11S from said tank and said cylinderto saidcasadapted to control said connection to said cylinder from saidtank, and a second valve in said casing adapted to control the dis- 5charge of :gas into said connection to said cylinder, said two valvesbeing timed to opcrate in synchronism, and manually operable'meansadapted to synchronously open said two valves, thereby admitting gas at5high pressure to said cylinder to start said engine.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinderprovided with an exhaust port controlled by the piston, of a 'fiu' idpressure storage tank, an independent pum-p operated by said engine andadapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to said tank, acylindrical casing, consaid casing, a puppet valve adapted to controlsaid connection to said cylinder from said casing, a cam adapted, uponrelative 'rotatlon'of-sald cam and said valve, to open said valve, and asecond valve in said casing" adapted to control the discharge of gasinto said connection to said cylinder, upon relative rotation of saidsecond valve and said casing.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinderprovided with an exhaust port-controlled by the piston, of

fluid pressure storage tank, an independent pump operated by said engineand adapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to said tank, acylindrical casing, connections from said tank and said cylinder to saidcasing, a puppet valve adapted to control said connection to saidcylinder from said casing, aca'm adapted, upon rel-" 5 ative rotation ofsaid cam and said valve, to open said valve, a second valve in saidcasing adaped to control the discharge of gas into said connectiontosaid cylinder, "upon relative rotation of said second valve 120 and saidcasing, and manually operable meansadapted to cause relative rotation ofsaid puppet valve and said cam and also of said second valve and saidcasing, thereby admitting high pressure gas to said cylinder 125 tostart said engine.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a fixed crankshaft, having a longitudinal passage therein, such passage having alateral opening, a cylinder 130 r rotatably mounted on said crank shaft,an

exhaust-port in said cylinder controlled by the'piston, an inlet valvein said cylinder,

' a spring adapted to normally seat the same,

means adapted to supply gaseous fuel at high pressure to such passage insa1d crank shaft, acasing rotatably mounted on said 7 crank shaft aboutthe lateral opening of such passage and attached to said cylinder,

said casing being provided With a port, a

i normally closed conduit connecting such port to said inlet valve, andmeans adapted to synchronously open said inlet valve and said'conduit,thereby admitting high pressure gaseous fuel to said cylinder.

8. In an internal combustlon engine, the

combination With a fixed crank shaft, hav- -1nga long1tud1nal passagethereln, such passage having a lateral opening, a cylinder closedconduit connecting such port to said inlet valve, a disk attached tosaid crank shaft in said casing, said disk having a port adapted, uponrotation of said casing and said cylinder, to register With such port insaid casing, and a cam formed on the periphery of said disk, said valvehaving a valve stem reciprocably mounted in said casing and adapted tobe actuated by contact with said cam to open sa d inlet valve, such portin sa1d dlsk being so disposed that it registers With such port in saidcasing simultaneously With the opening of said inlet valve by said cam.

9. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination With a. fixed crank shaft, having' a' longitudlnal passagetherein, such )assa e havin a lateral o enin a c linder rotatablymounted on said crank shaft, an

. exhaust port in said cylinder controlled by 1 the piston, an inletvalve 111 said cylinder, H a spring adapted to normally seat the same,

a fluid pressure storage tank, an independent pump operated by saidengine, and

' adapted to supply gaseous fuel under high pressure to said tank, aconduit connecting said tank to such passage in said crank shaft,

a casing rotatably mounted on said crank Copies of this patent may beobtained for shaft about the lateral opening of such passage andattached to said cylinder, said casing being provided With a port, anormally closed conduit connecting such port to said inlet valve, a.disk attached tosaid crank shaft in said casing, said disk having a portadapted, upon rotation of said casing and said cylinder, to registerWith such port in said casing, and a cam formed on the periphery of saiddisk, said valve having a valve stem reciprocably mounted in said casingand adapted to be actuated by contact With said cam to open said inletvalve, such port in said disk being so disposed that it registers Withsuch port in said casing simultaneously With the opening of said inletvalve by said cam.

10. In an internal combustion engine, the combination With a fixed crankshaft, having a longitudinal passage therein, such pas-' sage having alateral opening, a plurality of cylinders rotatably mounted on saidcrank shaft, exhaust ports in said cylinderscontrolled by the pistons,inlet valves in said cylinders, springs adapted to normally seat thesame, a fluid pressure storage tank, an independent pump operated bysaid engine, and adapted to supply gaseous fuel under high pressure tosaid tank, a conduit connecting said tank to said passage in said crankshaft, a casing rotatably mounted on said crank shaft about the latteropening of such passage and attached to said cylinders, said casingbeing provided With a plurality of ports, normally closed conduitsconnecting such ports to said inlet valves, a disk attached to saidcrank shaft in said casing, said disk having a port adapted, uponrotation of said casing and said cylinder, to register successively withsuch ports in said casing, and a cam formed on theperiphery of saiddisk, said valves having valve stems reciprocably mounted in said casingand adapted to be actuated by contact With said cam to open said inletvalves, such port in said disk being so disposed that it registers Withsuch ports in said casing simultaneously With the opening of said inletvalves by said cam.

Signed by me, this 25th day of June, 1913.

ERNEST W. V PRIGAN.

Attested by HORACE B. FAY, ANNE L. GILL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington,D. 0. V

